A detective from the Metropolitan Police, who oversaw the inquiry into the homicide of Sarah Everard by an active-duty officer, has termed the incident a “significant turning point” for the police force.
Sarah Everard, 33, was forcibly taken, assaulted, and murdered by Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens while she was walking home in London in 2021. He subsequently received a sentence of a whole-life order for his crimes.
Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin was honored with the King’s Police Medal by King Charles III during a ceremony held at Windsor Castle.
When reflecting on her involvement in the Everard case, she remarked, “In some ways, it feels like it happened a long time ago, but in reality, it hasn’t.”
“It represented a significant moment for numerous officers and staff within the Met, who felt profoundly betrayed by [Wayne Couzens’s] actions,” Det Supt Goodwin stated. “It truly seemed to serve as a catalyst for change.”
“Of course, we recognize that there’s still a lot of work ahead. We must do everything within our power to honor Sarah’s legacy.”
Describing the honor of receiving the King’s Police Medal as a “humbling” experience, she added, “It’s quite complex because I truly enjoy this work, and I have always endeavored to serve the public to the best of my abilities, so it’s genuinely gratifying to be acknowledged for my efforts.”
Wayne Couzens was sentenced to a whole-life order in September 2021 for the murder of Sarah Everard.
The case highlighted serious concerns regarding the vetting processes for Metropolitan Police officers and the presence of a misogynistic culture within the organization. Louise Casey’s 2023 review labeled the force as “institutionally racist, misogynistic, and homophobic.”
Earlier this year, the Angiolini Inquiry initiated a workforce survey for personnel across police departments in England and Wales, a year following its first report, which indicated that Couzens should never have been permitted to serve as a police officer.
The inquiry revealed that multiple opportunities to prevent the sexual predator were ignored or overlooked. Chairwoman Lady Elish Angiolini cautioned that without a comprehensive restructuring of policing practices and culture, there remains “nothing to prevent another Couzens from operating openly.”
In March of this year, Sarah Everard’s parents, Jeremy and Susan Everard, initiated a campaign for stricter sentencing for serious violent and sexual offenders as part of a new advocacy group named Justice for Victims.
